A laser sensor comprising a sensor head to receive laser light. The sensor head may have a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member may be optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter, the optical-to-electrical converter may be configured to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal, and the sensor head may be configured to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane.
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1. A laser signal sensor comprising: a sensor head to receive laser light; the sensor head comprising a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter; the optical-to-electrical converter operable to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal; and the sensor head operable to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane.
A laser signal sensor detects laser light across a wide field of view. It features a sensor head with a globe-shaped optical element that captures light from all directions horizontally (360 degrees) and 90 degrees vertically above the horizontal plane. This globe is optically connected to an optical-to-electrical converter, which transforms the received laser light into an electronic signal for processing.
2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the sensor head is operable to provide a field of view in the vertical plane below the horizontal plane.
The laser signal sensor, as described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, is enhanced to also detect laser light in the vertical plane below the horizontal plane, increasing the overall vertical field of view.
3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is spherical.
The laser signal sensor utilizes a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. In this specific implementation of the sensor having a 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, this globe-shaped element is a perfect sphere.
4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is a full sphere.
The laser signal sensor uses a globe-shaped optical member. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, this globe-shaped element is a complete, enclosed sphere.
5. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is of a single piece monolithic construction.
The laser signal sensor utilizes a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, this globe is constructed from a single, solid piece of material (monolithic construction) rather than being assembled from multiple parts.
6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is at least one of translucent and transparent.
The laser signal sensor employs a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, this globe is made of material that is either translucent (allowing some light to pass through, but not perfectly clear) or transparent (allowing light to pass through clearly).
7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is operable to diffuse incident laser light which contacts the globe-shaped optical member.
The laser signal sensor employs a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, this globe is designed to diffuse (scatter) any laser light that hits its surface.
8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the globe-shaped optical member is operable to diffuse the incident laser light at the outer surface.
The laser signal sensor uses a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, the globe has an outer surface specifically designed to diffuse incident laser light. This diffusion occurs at the outer surface of the globe.
9. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is translucent.
The laser signal sensor uses a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, the outer surface of this globe is translucent, allowing some light to pass through while scattering it.
10. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is at least one of sand blasted, acid etched and silk screened.
The laser signal sensor utilizes a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, the outer surface of the globe is treated with one of the following methods to enhance light diffusion: sandblasting, acid etching, or silk screening.
11. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is coated with a light diffusion coating.
The laser signal sensor uses a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, the outer surface of the globe is coated with a special coating designed to diffuse light.
12. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is coated with glass beads.
The laser signal sensor employs a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, the outer surface of this globe is coated with small glass beads to scatter light.
13. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is coated with powdered glass.
The laser signal sensor employs a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, the outer surface of the globe is coated with powdered glass to diffuse incident laser light.
14. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the sensor head is operable to enable incident laser light to enter the globe-shaped optical member and subsequently emanate from the globe-shaped optical member to be received by the optical-to-electrical converter.
The laser signal sensor uses a globe-shaped optical member to capture light. As described previously with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, the sensor head is designed to allow laser light to enter the globe, travel within it, and then exit (emanate) from the globe's surface to be detected by the optical-to-electrical converter.
15. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the optical-to-electrical converter comprises at least one photo-detector.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, uses an optical-to-electrical converter to change light into an electronic signal. This converter contains at least one photodetector, a component sensitive to light.
16. The sensor of claim 15 wherein: the photo-detector comprises a photo-diode, photo-resistor or photo-transistor.
The laser signal sensor utilizes an optical-to-electrical converter containing at least one photodetector to convert light into an electronic signal. As previously mentioned, the photodetector can be implemented using a photodiode, photoresistor, or phototransistor. The sensor has a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane.
17. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a light concentrating optic; and the light concentrating optic is operable to receive laser light from the globe-shaped optical member and concentrate the laser light prior to the laser light being received by the photo-detector.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, includes a light-concentrating optic. This optic receives laser light from the globe-shaped optical member and focuses this light before it reaches the photodetector, increasing the signal strength. The optical-to-electrical converter contains at least one photodetector.
18. The sensor of claim 17 wherein: the light concentrating optic comprises a compound parabolic concentrator.
The laser signal sensor uses a light concentrating optic to focus light onto the photodetector. As described previously, with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, the concentrating optic comprises a compound parabolic concentrator. The optical-to-electrical converter contains at least one photodetector.
19. The sensor of claim 17 wherein: the light concentrating optic comprises a mirrored concentrator.
The laser signal sensor incorporates a light concentrating optic to focus light onto the photodetector. As described previously, with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, this light concentrating optic is a mirrored concentrator, which uses reflective surfaces to focus the light. The optical-to-electrical converter contains at least one photodetector.
20. The sensor of claim 17 wherein: the light concentrating optic comprises a concentrator lens.
The laser signal sensor features a light concentrating optic for focusing light onto the photodetector. As described previously, with its 360-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, this optic is a concentrator lens, which uses refraction to focus the light. The optical-to-electrical converter contains at least one photodetector.
21. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an optical filter operable to block wavelengths of light other than laser light wavelengths; and the optical filter is operable to receive laser light which emanates from the globe-shaped optical member and arranged to filter the laser light prior to the laser light being received by the photo-detector.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, incorporates an optical filter. This filter blocks unwanted wavelengths of light, allowing only the laser light wavelengths to pass through. This occurs before the laser light reaches the photodetector, improving the signal-to-noise ratio. The optical-to-electrical converter contains at least one photodetector.
22. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an amplifier.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, further comprises an amplifier circuit to boost the electronic signal generated by the optical-to-electrical converter.
23. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a power supply.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, further comprises a power supply to provide the necessary electrical power to operate the sensor's components.
24. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an electromagnetically shielded enclosure.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, further comprises an electromagnetically shielded enclosure to protect the sensor from external electromagnetic interference.
25. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an electrical output connector.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, further comprises an electrical output connector for transmitting the electronic signal generated by the sensor to external devices.
26. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a transmitter.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, further comprises a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the electronic signal generated by the sensor.
27. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a coupling lens.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, further comprises a coupling lens to improve the optical coupling between the globe-shaped optical member and other optical components.
28. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an optical fiber.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, further comprises an optical fiber for transmitting the received laser light to the optical-to-electrical converter.
29. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: mounting means.
The laser signal sensor, having a 360-degree horizontal and a 90-degree vertical field of view above the horizontal plane, further comprises mounting means for physically securing the sensor in a desired location.
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May 12, 2011
June 18, 2013
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